Foot support



March 11, 1930. H. R. ROGERS 1,750,360

FOOT SUPPORT Filed April 4, 1927 flaw" 57205671 Patented Mar. 11, 1939 PATENT OFFICE HARRY R. ROGERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOOT SUPPORT Application filed April 4,

This invention relates to foot supports, and it consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device for use in connection with a shoe and so arranged with respect to the insole thereof and so formed as to provide a recess or depression with a transversal forward arched portion, into which the heel of the foot naturally moves to prevent the forward sliding of the foot, with the arched portion engaged against that part of the foot intended to be supported.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind including a shaped steel shank and a socket or clip for one end thereof both of which are fixed to the insole only, whereby the socket will move laterally with the insole to conform the same to the foot as the shoe becomes broken in,.the shank fleX ing into conformation with said breaking in.

My invent-ion further consists generally in a device of the form, arrangement and construction and cooperation of the parts whereby the above named objects, together with others as well as the many advantages thereof are attainable and my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates what I consider at the present time to be the preferred embodiment thereof.

In said drawing Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a shoe embodying my invention, a portion thereof being broken away to more clearly show the foot support embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the supporting device on an enlarged scale showing its position relative to the sole of the shoe in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the device, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section through the front end of the device as taken on the line 44- of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale through the heel end of the device as taken on line 55 of Fig. 3.

1927. Serial No. 180,662.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the shank part of my improved foot supporting device.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the socket or clip forming the other part of my improved foot supporting device.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, 1 indicates the upper of a shoe, 2 the lower or outsole, 3 the insole and 4 the heel thereof. Interposed between the outsole and insole and secured to the latter is my improved foot support which includes a shank 5 and an associated clip or plate 6. The shank and associated clip are of a peculiar construction and form and are so positioned in the shoe as to function in a more efficient manner all as will hereinafter appear.

The shank 5 is preferably made of tempered sheet steel so that it will have the desired resilience. Said shank is substantially spoon shaped when viewed in plan and the heel or rear end 8 thereof is substantially wider than the toe or front end 9 thereof and is connected thereto by an intermediate portion 10. The heel end 8 is substantially elliptical and likened to the bowl of the spoon; while the front end is fiat and rectangular the intermediate portion tapering in width from said heel end to the front end. Extending longitudinally of the shank is a rib 11 for stiffening the same. When viewed in side elevation the front end 9 is substantially flat and the heel end is convened or dished both longitudinally and transversely to form a heel pocket or recess with a front trausversal arch 12, the intermediate portion 10 being curved longitudinally upward to provide what may properly be described as the longitudinal arch. In the production of the shank member the recessed heel end of the shank is '90 inclined or canted laterally, with the lower part or side thereof positioned toward the inside of the shoe in which it is employed, said inclination being best shown in Fig. 5. In the recessed or pocketed heel end are provided apertures 1813 by which said heel end may be attached in any suitable manner to the under side of the insole.

The clip or plate 6 is of a unique construction and is made from a single substantially oval shaped piece of sheet metal. The mid portion of the clip is depressed to form the bottom wall 14 thereof which opens by means of a transverse slot 15, under a lip 16 formed by the rear end of said clip. In depressing said portion a part thereof is blanked out to form a tongue 17 which projects rearwardly from the front end 18 of the clip, to overhang the bottom wall 14-. In the tongue, on e: ch side thereof are transversely aligned recesses 19, the purpose of which will soon appear. To stiffen said tongue the same ribbed longitudinally and in the front end of the clip a hole 20 is provided by means of which the clip may be secured to the insole. Such a clip is made as an entirety from a single stamping and therefore may be readily and cheaply produced and is relatively thin so as not to be uncomfortably bulky when assembled in a shoe.

Before attaching the device in place, it is first assembled by inserting the flat front end 9 of the shank under the lip 16 of the clip and then passing it through the slot 15 until it extends under the tongue 17 up to the recesses 19 which provide a positioning gauge. With the shank and clip in this assembled relation. they are both attached to the under side of the insole in the longitudinal center line of the shoe with the transverse arch of the heel pocket back of the breast of the shoe heel. This brings the clip to a position back of the ball of the foot permitting free action thereof as well as the forward part of the foot. hen in a shoe, the device arches the insole longitudinally as best shown in Fig. 1 to provide a pocket into which the heel of the foot naturally moves, the transversal arch at the front end of the pocket preventing the forwardly slipping of the foot. This brings the longitudinally arched part up into snug engagement with the arch of the foot to provide a yielding or cushion like support for the same, which acts against the foot arch with a. gentle pressure at the same time filling the air pocket formed in most shoes at this point. This arch or upward elevation will find its own position or level depending entirely upon the construction of the foot upon which the shoe is worn and is controlled by distribution of the body weight. poise in walking and position of the foot whether they naturally turn inward or outward. As the arch is depressed under the body weight the frontend of the shanks slides back and forth in the clip and said clip prevents wear on the insole and outsole by protecting them against engagement by said front end of the shank.

After the device is in a shoe, the shank of course starts to form the arched part in the shoe and as the insole and outsole are stitched together they work inwardly at the toe of the shoe as shown in dotted lines in Fig. E3 thereby suppl ing the insole material for the higher arch so that as the shoe becomes broken in or forms itself to the natural shape of the foot, the clip and shank both shift to accommodate this movement of the insole and therefore shapes itself to the foot.

With the clip positioned as before described, it does not come under that part of the foot which would impose a weight upon it but it comes under the arch or air pocket of the foot so that there is no weight or pressure imposed upon it to the discomfort of the footand the clip is free to shift with the sole as the shoe becomes broken in.

It is apparent that with the parts of the device made and positioned as described, a foot support is provided which is comfortable and which not only resists forward slipping of the foot but which exerts a gentle upward supporting pressure against the foot arch and which device readily adapts the shoe to fit arches as found in different feet.

While in describing my invention, I have referred in detail to the form and arrangement of the parts thereof, the same is to be considered as by way of illustration only so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A shoe embodying therein an outsole, an insole, and a foot supporting device positioned between said soles, said device comprising a longitudinally arched shank fixed at the heel end to said insole and a clip also fixed to said insole and in which the front end of the shank has sliding engagement, said clip comprising a plate with a depressed bottom wall which opens through a slot at one end and an integral tongue at the other end to overhang the front end of the shank and being so positioned as to come under the arched part of the foot so that no weight is' imposed thereon.

2. A shoe embodying therein an outsole and an insole, and afoot supporting device interposed between said soles including a shank and an associated clip, said shank having a dished heel portion at one end fixed to the insole and lower at one side than it is at the other, the other end of the shank being flat and slidably in the clip, the intermediate portion of said shank being longitudinally arched, and the front end of said dished heel portion being transversely arched where it merges into said intermediate portion.

A shoe embodying therein an outsole and an insole, and a foot supporting device interposed between said soles including a shank and clip, said shank being ribbed longitudinally and having an oval shaped shallow dished heel portion fixed to the insole back of the breast of the heel of the shoe and lower at one side than it is at the other defined at its front end by a transversely arched portion, the other end of said shank being slidable in said clip and being connected to said heel portion by a longitudinally arched intermedate portion.

4. A foot supporting device comprising a shank and a clip portion in which one end of the shank has sliding bearing, said clip comprising a plate with a depressed bottom wall which opens through a slot at one end of the clip and has an integral tongue on the other end to overhang said shank end, and said clip being adapted to be secured to one of the sole members of a shoe.

5. In combination with superposed members embodied in a shoe, a foot supporting device interposed between said members and comprising a shank and a clip in which one end of the shank has sliding engagement, the other end of the shank having a dished heel portion which is lower at one side than it is at the other connected to said first mentioned end by a longitudinally arched intermediate portion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 28th day of February, 1927.

HARRY R. ROGERS. 

